Bobby McDonald - Strange Ashes

Bobby McDonaldJune 15, 202114mWatch on YouTube

Speaker: Bobby McDonald Title: Strange Ashes Date: 06/13/2021 Our Goal as Christians is this: To be an exact reflection of Jesus, the Son of God (Romans 8:29) We do this individually by growing in purity in our personal lives (1 John 3:2-3) We do this corporately by becoming fully functioning members of a local Church (Ephesians 4:11-16)

Summary

The central message is that true Christian faith must be built on an unwavering understanding of God's love, which is best exemplified by John 3:16. The speaker warns against counterfeiting God's love, which often leads people to doubt God when facing hardship or disappointment. True faith trusts God's love regardless of external circumstances, recognizing that God's ways and thoughts are infinitely higher than our own limited understanding.

Outline

The message in plain words, in the order it unfolds. Select a time to jump the video to that moment.

What is the true foundation of the Christian life?The Bible says God is love, but the devil tries to twist this view so that our faith will shake when hard times come and we feel let down by God.

Every day has its own troubleJesus said each day has enough trouble of its own, meaning hard times are coming and we need a concrete foundation of faith to endure them without contradiction.

Rejecting the lie that God doesn't love us during hard timesJust like counterfeit money, the devil tries to sell a counterfeit love that leads Christians to falsely believe God does not love them when they face trials.

What is the greatest proof of God's love?While God disciplines those He loves, the greatest proof of His love is found in John 3 where He gave His only Son so we would not perish.

Saved from what we deserveJustice demands that we should be separated from God because we are sinners, but we are saved from that fate solely because of God's love shown in Christ.

God's love is not measured by external physical blessingsThe proof of God's love is not answered prayers, healing, high-paying jobs, or houses, because many who hate God receive these things while believers may not.

Looking to the cross to put all doubts to restFaith looks to the cross and realizes that no matter what suffering comes, the cross puts an end to any question about whether God loves us.

Blessed are those who do not see yet believeJesus blessed those who did not see physical proof or receive every desired external thing, yet still trusted Him completely as a God of love.John 20:29

Why does God's love look so different from our human love?Human parents want to protect their children from all suffering, so we struggle to understand why God allows hard things, much like a dog cannot understand a human's ways.

God's ways are higher than our waysThe Lord declares through Isaiah that just as the heavens are higher than the earth, His ways and thoughts are vastly higher than ours.Isaiah 55:8

Elizabeth Elliot's book title: These Strange AshesDrawing inspiration from Elizabeth Elliot's book title, God's ways can look very strange and burn up things in a hot fire, but it is one hundred percent pure love.

Love is a fierce, unquenchable fireSong of Solomon describes love as a severe, unquenchable fire of the Lord that burns up anything not good for us and leaves behind strange ashes.Song of Solomon 8:6–7

Clinging to faith in the midst of the fireTrue faith is not believing God will give us what we want, but continuing to confess that God is perfect love even when His ways are strange to us.

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